6.21.21 BNP Advocacy Alert – Poloncarz Announces ARP Spending Plan
Blog Categories
Josh Veronica
June 21, 2021
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced today his plan to invest the county’s share of local aid from the latest COVID-19 relief package.
The American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan signed by President Biden in March, provided $178 million to Erie County.
Poloncarz said the county’s “RENEW Plan” will invest $123.7 million in:
- Infrastructure
- ErieNET, a 360-mile high-speed fiberoptic network across Erie County
- $33 million in sewer and water upgrades
- $5 million for construction of a new DPW barn on Harlem Road
- $10 million for upgrades to the county building at 50 Delaware Avenue and the replacement of roof tiles at SUNY Erie’s downtown campus
- $5 million in DPW pay-as-you-go road funding
- Regional Attractions
- $14.3 million in the Erie County Parks system
- Largest single-year investment since the 1930s WPA program
- Restoration of the Wendt Mansion and Stables
- $400,000 in upgrades to the South Park casino and Martin Luther King Park grow-houses
- Significant investment in Chestnut Ridge Park – Parking Lot, Casino Improvements, Roadway Improvements, Comfort Station upgrades
- Other upgrades to Ellicott Creek Park, Como Lake Park, Emery Park, Grover Cleveland Park, Seneca Bluffs Park.
- $5 million for the Botanical Gardens Expansion Project
- $4.5 million for facade renovations to the Convention Center
- $14.3 million in the Erie County Parks system
- County Personnel
- Replacement of previous COVID-related budget cuts
- 107 of 287 cut county positions restored
- Premium pay for essential county workers who worked during first wave of pandemic – up to $5/hour bonus
- 35 new jobs in the parks department, EMS services, district attorney’s office, purchasing, cancer services, and a newly-created Office of Health Equity
- Replacement of previous COVID-related budget cuts
- Other Investments
- $2.8 million for small business promotion programs
- $1.6 million to fully fund Health Professionals Opportunity Grant Program to train health workforce
- $15 million in other “Strategic Community Group Capital Investments”
The RENEW Plan is being presented to the Erie County Legislature this week. Poloncarz expects the remaining tranche of ARP funds to arrive in May 2022.
Related Posts
12.21.21 Advocacy Alert: What’s the Latest on Biden’s Vax/Test Mandate?
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.
12.17.21 Advocacy Alert: Canada to Again Require Testing for Entry
Today, Canadian officials announced they would be reinstating a requirement that all entrants present proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
The requirement will take effect Tuesday, according to the Buffalo News.
NY’s Tax Climate Again Ranks at National Bottom
Today, the Tax Foundation (an independent tax policy think tank) released its 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index. The report compares all fifty states on various tax policies, then ranks their overall business tax climate. New York ranked below every state except New Jersey.
NY’s rank in the State Business Tax Climate Index
The poor ranking comes as no surprise. New York has oscillated between 48-50 for over ten years. After enacting new tax increases this year, New York dropped from 48th to 49th.
12.13.21 COVID-19 Bulletin: Statewide Mask Mandate Now in Effect
Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she would repeal the state’s mask mandate, effective today. However, her announcement did not proactively address how the repeal coincided with the NY HERO Act, which would have required employees in most workplaces to continue masking.